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Brussel Sprouts is a favorite menu item at Cloud Red in Shorewood. The neighborhood establishment serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Customers enjoy the laid back atmosphere at Cloud Red in Shorewood on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. The neighborhood establishment serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

The Shrimp Taco plate is a favorite menu item at Cloud Red in Shorewood. The neighborhood establishment serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

The Basil Gimlet (left) and Bourbon Sour are customer favorites at Cloud Red in Shorewood. The neighborhood establishment serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Customers enjoy the laid back atmosphere at Cloud Red in Shorewood on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. The neighborhood establishment serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Cloud Red in Shorewood serves up a wide range of craft beer, specialty cocktails and wine. The menu features homemade food with a diverse combination of meat-loving, vegetarian, comfort and healthy dishes. Scott Ash/Now News Group

That’s been the goal since Lis Duggan and Rebecca Loewen opened their new business in the former Village Pub space in May 2016.

“We are a self-described ‘social house.’ We don’t really like to call ourselves a restaurant; we don’t really like to call ourselves a bar. It’s not really about our food, and it’s not necessarily about our drinks. It’s just about the experience,” Duggan said. “We wanted a place where people can be comfortable to gather. It’s a cool, casual place to hang out with neighbors or friends or family.”

The formation of Cloud Red started with Duggan and Loewen’s relationship through the Irish Pub in Milwaukee’s Third Ward. Duggan’s husband, John, owned the establishment, and Loewen served as general manager for a number of years.

“I met her through that. We never talked about opening up a place together; it just happened. Becca noticed one day that the Village Pub had shut down, and it was available, and the conversation just started with, ‘Well, what would we like to see in this space?’” Duggan said.

As residents of Shorewood and Milwaukee’s East Side respectively, Loewen and Duggan began brainstorming what they, themselves, would like to see added to their area.

“We didn’t really have a plan, I guess, but literally a few weeks later we started thinking ‘Wait, maybe we could put something in the space,’” Duggan said. “Then we just said ‘Yeah, we’re going to try. We’re just going to do it.’”

The atmosphere at Cloud Red can fluctuate, with the casual atmosphere occasionally becoming more rowdy and the seats being filled by people of all ages and backgrounds.

“It really depends on the night. We have TVs, but you’ll often not see them on. It’s a casual place where it’s everyone from young professionals to seniors. There’s families in there, and there’s friends from all walks of life,” Duggan said.

Like the environment, the menu is also in a constant state of flux, with certain favorites, such as the deep-fried Brussels sprouts and tacos, being relative fixtures, but many other items coming and going on a whim.

“We like to do things a little bit different and offer different kinds of food. We don’t want to put ourselves in a box, so it’s whatever Becca’s feeling, or any of the chefs,” Duggan said. “There are some things that have been on for awhile because they’re well-received. For most of It, it’s just honestly whenever we feel like changing it.”

To that end, the current menu is displayed on a wall and guests can order at the bar.

“Everything is homemade. There’s just a little for everybody on the menu; for meat lovers, for vegetarians, for vegans,” Duggan said. “We like to have a few options for everybody, and we like to do things from different ethnicities. There’s nothing really that we stick to.”

The Village Pub closed in summer 2014, and Duggan noted that she enjoys being able to carry on the tradition of the space and helping guests to create more memories.

“It’s exciting. We didn’t want to take anything away from the Village Pub. People come in all the time and have stories about having so many fond memories of the place,” Duggan said. “Hopefully, we’ve just created a different space where people can continue to make memories.”

The mission of not necessarily being a bar, not necessarily being a restaurant, but rather something that transcends either label is also apparent in the name.

“It comes from the red-winged blackbird. We’ve always noticed them in the area, and Becca’s husband mentioned that a group of red-winged blackbirds is called a cloud actually, so then we kind of just worked with that,” Duggan said. “It also played into, with the idea of birds gathering together, this being a gathering place.”

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Carolie King, 3, plays a tambourine during a free parent and child music class on Jan. 17 offered by Nick Meske as a promotion for a six-week class he will be offering through the Oconomowoc Recreation Department at the Community Center. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Nicolet gymnast Abbe Hansen competes on the beam during the meet at home against Whitefish Bay on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019. Hansen placed third in the event with a score of 8.60. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Jolene Mazurkiewiz (left) and Anna Nimphius play in a a mirror during a free Story Time Tuesday for pre-school children that included a book reading, craft activity and play at the Liberty Dance Center in Waukesha on Jan. 8. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Jumpers react to the frigid water of Upper Nemahbin Lake during the annual Polar Plunge at Panga Bar & Grill in Oconomowoc on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Funds raised from this year's plunge will benefit research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Steam swirls around Luke Belawski as he scoops up a portion of Buffalo Chicken Chili offered by the 5 O's U11 baseball team Cook Off tent where 11 non-profit groups offered different takes on the classic winter fare during Oconomowoc's Chili Fest on Jan. 26. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Sarah Steiner of Milwaukee encounters a White Walker during the "Winter is Coming" pop-up bar experience at the City Lounge in Cudahy on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019. The "Game of Thrones" inspired attraction runs through Feb. 2 and features drink specials, White Walkers, ravens and a fire breathing dragon. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Youngsters participate in the runway show during the Wonderful World of Weddings show at State Fair Park in West Allis on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. The event features the latest offerings in wedding gowns, tuxedos, cakes, photographers, florists, reception facilities, music, limos and more. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Arrowhead's Carter Gilmore (14) elevates for a slam dunk over Oconomowoc's Ray Lestina during the game at Oconomowoc on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019. The dunk did not count as a whistle had been blown. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Chad Olson of Cedar Rapids tries to coax his Alaskan Malamute named Maya across the finish line during the Alaskan Malamute Dog Pull competition at Minooka Park in Waukesha on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The event, hosted by the Alaskan Malamute Club of Wisconsin, was held in conjunction with the 34th annual Waukesha JanBoree. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Mark Wieselmann of West Allis enjoys a brisk ride down the Arctic Avalanche toboggan run at Lowell Park with his children (from left) Nora, 5, Julia, 8, and Luke, 3, during the 34th annual Waukesha JanBoree on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019. The three-day family friendly extravaganza features 39 individual events throughout the city. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Mark Corgiat of the Delafield American Legion Post 196 checks one of nine pans containing 300 pounds of raccoon meat, root vegetables and spices that are slow roasting in a rotary shelf oven in the St. John - Northwestern Military Academy kitchen on Jan. 26. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

St. John's Northwestern Military Academy guard Gerald Gittens rises up for a layup against New Berlin Eisenhower at the Luke Homan Showcase at Brookfield Central on Jan. 19, 2019. Curt Hogg / Now News Group

West Bend East guard Sam Geldnich (3) gets a pass off to a teammate from his back while Joe Salamone (standing) and Greenfield's Elijah Rosario look on during a game on Jan. 19, 2019. Greenfield defeated West Bend East, 55-51. Curt Hogg / Now News Group

Road salt is scooped from an enclosed storage area at the Public Works Yard on Good Home Road as snow from the Jan. 22 snowstorm begins to fall. A typical eight ton salt load lasts about one hour of driving one of the Village's snow clearing and salting routes. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Stellah Freitag of Watertown tried using a jig pole on Lower Genesee Lake in Summit during a free instructional ice fishing day hosted by Sons of the Watertown American Legion Post 189 on Jan. 19. The event drew more than 50 children and their attending adults. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Juliet Roger plays along with "The Itsy Bitsy Spyder" with son Forrest, 2, during a free parent and child music class on Jan. 17 offered by Nick Meske as a promotion for a six-week class to be offered through the Oconomowoc Recreation Department at the Community Center. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Amber Shanahan of River Falls and Lyndsay Gregerson of Milwaukee wait for shots of Fireball poured down channels carved in an ice block in front of Revere's Tavern during the first DelaFreeze on Jan. 12. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Abigail, 5, and Emlie Veinot try sliding stones on a curling rink run by the Kettle Moraine Curling Club in front of Revere's Tavern during the first DelaFreeze on Jan. 12. The event featured ice carvers and other activities throughout downtown Delafield. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Lou Zhur pulls Angel Armani out of the crowd and back into the ring during the Brew City Wrestling "Rise To Honor XV- 15 Years of FAN-demonium" event at the Waukesha Elks Lodge on Jan. 11 that featured seven matches during the evening. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Oconomowoc gymnast Paige Eicher competes on the beam during the Mukwonago Gymnastics Invite on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Eicher placed fifth in the All Around with a score of 31.325. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Mukwonago/Kettle Moraine co-op gymnast Mackenzie Pendleton competes on the beam during the Mukwonago Gymnastics Invite on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Pendleton placed second in the All Around with a score of 33.150. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Teammates look on as Franklin/Muskego/Oak Creek/Whitnall co-op gymnast Izzy Wong competes on the bars during the Mukwonago Gymnastics Invite on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019. Wong placed third on the event with a score of 9.150. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Elyse Transon and Mary Youssi (back) demonstate a particular movement to members of the Milwaukee Irish Dance Company at Danceworks on Jan. 9. The two started teaching beginning children and adult Irish dance classes through the Hartland Recreation Department. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Emmalou Dudley, 2, and Kylie McElderry have a snowball fight with cotton balls during a free Story Time Tuesday for pre-school children that included a book reading, craft activity and play at the Liberty Dance Center in Waukesha on Jan. 8. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Five-year-old Braxton Chapman of Nashotah and Evelyn Borg, 7, of Oconomowoc, act out a scene during a free, Open House theatre class hosted by Lake Country Playhouse in Hartland on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Lake Country Playhouse teaching artists Callyn Klohn (left) and Kathryn Mooers demonstrate a scene during a free, Open House theatre class in Hartland on Monday, Jan. 7, 2019. For more information visit LakeCountryPlayhouseWI.org. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Nicki Verburgt of Milwaukee participates in a weekly free fitness class taught by Army veteran Dan Newberry at FUEL Fitness in Oak Creek on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. Dan's organization, 22 Fitness Foundation Inc., is collecting donations for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). The Jan. 6 class was a fundraiser and informational gathering for the AFSP. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Models display the latest in wedding fashion during the Wonderful World of Weddings show at State Fair Park in West Allis on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2019. The event features the latest offerings in wedding gowns, tuxedos, cakes, photographers, florists, reception facilities, music, limos and more. Scott Ash/Now News Group

Morgan (left) and Maddy Vele of Mukwonago practice with McKenzie Clark (right) of Bayside a battle base stance if pulled or pushed during a self defense workshop for first-time students at Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Milwaukee in Wauwatosa on Jan. 5. C.T. Kruger/Now News Group

Jumpers frolic in the frigid water of Upper Nemahbin Lake during the annual Polar Plunge at Panga Bar & Grill in Oconomowoc on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019. Funds raised from this year's plunge will benefit research efforts of the Alzheimer's Association. Scott Ash/Now News Group